Change the time format on your Apple Watch through the Watch app on your iPhone

The Apple Watch displays time in one of two formats: 12-hour (showing AM or PM) or 24-hour (military time, running from 00:00 to 23:59). You control which one appears by opening the Watch app on your paired iPhone, not by adjusting anything on the watch itself. The setting syncs automatically once you change it.

This is different from setting the actual time — your watch pulls the correct time from your iPhone and updates it automatically. What you are changing here is only how that time is displayed on your watch face. The actual clock on your watch stays accurate without any action from you.

Key Takeaways

  • Time format changes happen in the Watch app on your iPhone, not on the watch itself.
  • You can choose between 12-hour format (with AM/PM) and 24-hour format (military time).
  • The change takes effect when ready and applies to all standard watch faces that show the time.
  • Your Apple Watch automatically syncs the correct time from your iPhone, so you do not need to set it manually.
  • Some specialty watch faces ignore the time format setting and display time in their own way.

Open the Watch app and find the Time settings

Unlock your iPhone and locate the Watch app — it has a black icon with a white watch outline. Tap it to open. At the bottom of the screen, you will see five tabs. Tap the tab labeled Clock (it looks like a clock face).

Once you are in the Clock section, scroll down until you see the heading Time Format. This is where you make your choice. The option sits near the bottom of the Clock settings, so you may need to scroll past other options like World Clock and Alarms first.

Select 12-hour or 24-hour time

Under Time Format, you will see two options: 12-hour and 24-hour. Tap the one you want. A checkmark appears next to your choice.

If you choose 12-hour, your watch will display times like 3:45 PM or 9:20 AM. If you choose 24-hour, it will show 15:45 or 09:20 instead. The change takes effect on your watch within seconds — you do not need to restart anything. The format you select becomes the default for every time display on your watch.

What happens if your watch and iPhone show different times

Your Apple Watch should always show the same time as your iPhone because it pulls the time from your phone automatically. If they differ, the watch is usually a few seconds behind while it syncs. Wait 30 seconds and check again.

If the times are still different by more than a minute, restart your watch. Press and hold the side button until you see the power slider, then slide it to turn off the watch. Wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears. Once the watch restarts, the time should match your iPhone. This forces a fresh sync between the two devices.

Change the time on your iPhone if it is wrong

If both your watch and iPhone show the wrong time, you need to correct your iPhone's time. Open Settings on your iPhone and tap General, then Date & Time. Toggle on Set Automatically if it is off — this lets your phone pull the correct time from your carrier or Wi-Fi network.

If Set Automatically is already on and the time is still wrong, toggle it off, then back on. This forces your iPhone to fetch the correct time again. Your watch will sync to the corrected time within moments. You should not need to manually enter a time unless your phone has no network connection at all.

Different watch faces may display time differently

Some Apple Watch faces show the time prominently, while others display it small or in a corner. A few specialty faces (like Astronomy, Solar, or Kaleidoscope) show time in ways that do not follow the 12-hour or 24-hour setting — they use their own design. The time format setting you choose applies to all standard watch faces, but these specialty faces may look different.

If you switch to a different watch face and the time looks wrong, check whether that face is one of the specialty designs. You can always switch back to a standard face like Modular, Infograph, or straightforward to see the time format you selected. The underlying time is always correct; only the visual display changes based on the watch face you choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different time formats on different watch faces?

No. The time format setting applies to your entire watch. All standard watch faces will show either 12-hour or 24-hour time depending on what you chose in the Watch app. You cannot mix formats across different faces.

What if I do not see the Time Format option in the Clock section?

Make sure you are in the Clock tab at the bottom of the Watch app, not in a different section. Scroll all the way down — Time Format appears near the bottom of the Clock settings. If you still cannot find it, restart the Watch app by closing it completely and opening it again.

Does changing the time format affect alarms or timers on my watch?

No. Alarms and timers work the same way regardless of whether you use 12-hour or 24-hour format. The format change only affects how the time is displayed on your watch face and in the Clock app.

Will my watch automatically update the time when I travel to a different time zone?

Yes. Your watch syncs time from your iPhone, which automatically updates when you travel and your phone detects a new time zone. Your watch will show the correct local time for wherever you are.

What if my watch is not paired to an iPhone anymore?

An unpaired watch can still display time, but it will not sync to a new time zone or receive time updates. You would need to pair it to an iPhone again to restore automatic time syncing and change the time format.